A matter of record - Donegal Democrat down the Years

The Donegal Democrat has been reporting from the highways and byways of the county since its first publication back in June 1919.
It is part of our rich historic legacy which began just before the foundation of the Free State and later the Republic of Ireland.
Sadly not all the editions survived the passage of time, which included a fire in its early years.
But in times ahead, veteran journalist, Michael McHugh, who first started belting the typewriter for the 'Demo' when Donegal won its first All Ireland senior GAA football championship in 1992, will puruse the unique legacy archive that is the DONEGAL DEMOCRAT. We hope readers will enjoy our second offering!

100 years ago - Donegal Democrat, May 11, 1923

A TIRCONAILL DUG-0UT

Free State troops, operating in the neighbourhood of Mountcharles a few days ago, discovered a dug out on a farm in the townland of Salthill, a short distance from the Village.

It was 15ft long, 9ft wide and 7ft high and had the appearance of having been recently occupied, a quantity of delph being found in it.

There were no arms or ammunition found in it. The dug-out had a flat roof of zinc, quite unobservable and indeed it is somewhat of a mystery how it was located. The interior was sheeted with boards, a spring well being also inside.

The story as it appeared in the Democrat of the time

90 years ago - Donegal Democrat, May 11, 1933

BALLINTRA - The writer has been given a book which has turned up amongst a large collection of books in the possession of Capt. J.S. Hamilton, Brownhall.

Pasted on the inside of the front cover is a printed bookplate bearing the words :- "Ballintra Lending Library, No. 5, 1829."

We were thus more up-to-date 104 years ago then we are at present, for, at the moment of writing, Ballintra does not possess such a thing as a lending library.

A few years ago people around the neighbourhood were able to enjoy books without any cost whatsoever; but, in a short time, some readers were so ungrateful that they would not return the books, and the library scheme had to be abandoned.

Somewhere around there are over a score of books bearing on their leaves the stamp of Tirconaill County Council Libraries; and it is an extraordinary thing that people seeing this would not bring back the books to the place of issue.

Borrowers of books, whether from libraries or private individuals, should think it worthwhile to return the volumes after a reasonable period.

In the same Ballintra notes, we read: "It is reported that there was a serious interruption to the game on last Sunday afternoon when football teams representing two townlands met in a "friendly".

The lady owner of the field, however, was far from friendly when the players and supporters marched on without asking permission.

As they showed reluctance in departing at her first request, she left and came back with a rusty Queen Anne musket which she rested on a fivebarred gate while she ordered instant evacuation of the grounds.

It cannot be said that the movement to the highway was a grand one; but, in a very short time, everybody got there."

60 years ago - Donegal Democrat, May 15, 1943

RATIONING OF CREAMERY BUTTER -

Rationing of creamery butter will be extended to the whole country at a very early date. Last year over 600,000 cwts (hundredweight or equivalent to 112 pounds) of butter was produced in this country.

It is anticipated that the same amount during the coming season will be almost the same. Owing to the absence of margarine and the scarcity of cooking fats there has been a substantial increased demand for butter during the past year or so, but notwithstanding this, it is the view in official quarters that the amount of creamery butter and farmer’s butter produced is sufficient to meet all reasonable demands.

During the winter months, the country has to rely on the reserve stocks of creamery butter built up during the Summer period.

In order to ensure that the maximum quantity of creamery butter is placed in cold store for winter consumption, it has been decided to exercise a stricter control over the quantity released for consumption in the summer when substantial supplies of farmer’s butter are available.

As a preliminary step, persons who are accustomed to buying butter in the summer months from a shopkeeper must register before Saturday 15th inst., at the shop.

An early Bundoran business advert from May 1933 from the well known Travers family, who still have links with the trade 

The instructions for registration are contained in the official announcement published in sour advertising columns to-day.

Persons who produce their own butter or are in a position to secure supplies of farmer’s butter during the summer months direct from the farmer need not register with a shopkeeper. If they do register with the shopkeeper for butter they cannot purchase butter of any description from any other source.

When these persons can no longer obtain the farmer’s butter, for instance during the Winter months, they may, then of course, register with a shopkeeper.

Catering establishments and institutions cannot register for supplies of butter; if they purchase their supplies through a trader they will require a special permit from the Department of Supplies to do so.

70 years ago - Donegal Democrat, May 15, 1953

ARDARA - The salmon fisheries season for Lougrosmore Bay opens tomorrow (Friday).

After a prolonged holiday here in her native place, Miss Bridget Ward, Lagumna, has left for the States.

Among the Irish America visitors in Ardara is Mr Patrick Breslin, a native of Shaskenagreena, who is accompanied by his two sons both of whom are members of the American Forces serving in Europe. Mr Bresin is a brother of Mr James Breslin and Miss Bridget Breslin, Shaskenagreena.

A Mulrines of Ballybofey advert from the Democrat of May 1933

A cow owned by Mr Philip Gallagher, Doohill, has given birth to twin calves, the second set within two years.

The hand loom tweed weaving industry is booming in the Ardara district and skilled workers are employed, full time, many working overtime.

The lack of skilled weavers capable of making the high quality fabric now required on the world market may prove a big drawback to the future progress of the industry.

Flood's from Pettigo advert from 1923

GLENCOLMCILLE AND KILCAR DISTRICT - In the possession of Mr Thomas Breslin, Largybrack, is a flint arrowhead which he discovered recently, while working on his bog.

In the farmyard of Mr Daniel O’Donnell, Roxboro, Kilcar is to be seen a goose which is probably the oldest in Ireland.

It is 27 years of age. Old age has brought an infirmity blindness, but does not seem to effect her in the least as she has seemingly, very keen hearing, which makes up for the pack of vision.

Although it is over ten years ago since she laid her last egg the O’Donnell family would not consider doing away with her and she is exceptionally well cared for.

60 years ago - Donegal Democrat, May 17, 1963

IT WAS TOO STORMY TO DISPLAY TRACTOR TAX DISC -

When it was stated at Lifford Court that a tax disc was not displayed on a tractor because it was too stormy at the time to put it up, Judge Larkin commented it was certainly a new excuse.

In another case we read that a defendant was fined £1 for being drunk in charge of a bicycle.

A matter of record - Donegal Democrat down the years

Another defendant received the Probation Act on a charge of stealing an axe.

His solicitor said that his client had said he found the axe on the old railway line and had never been in trouble before.